Bolt Opened or Bolt Left Closed?

[rick54R]

Just wondering what is best. I have a good friend who manages a local Military Museum. I noticed one day many of the displayed bolt action rifles had the bolts open.
I asked the reason for this, his reply....allows air to circulate and moisture to be displaced.
Now, that got me to thinking.
Should I follow suit with my Mosin Nagants.
Any ideas as to if one should do this or not.
But, let me add this as well, most of my collection hangs on racks mounted to walls.

[Remiel]

Personally i take my bolts out and de-cock them to fit better in my safe, since each is numbered to a specific rifle its no problem for me, I only one one non-matching 91/30 so I down t worry about mixed bolts

[redspoon]

I got about fifty hanging on wall racks year round, bolts closed. They get a wipe down with oily rag and oil patch thru the bore every six months. No problems so far. It's starting to be quite a chore though.

[m1guy]

I have always just left mine closed. I never really thought about it.

But, I honestly just can't see that really making much difference.

Is more air circulation necessarily a good thing, anyway? If firearms are in a safe, room, or any environment where you have some dessicant or heaters to dry the air, what if that air circulates out and more humid air comes in?

JMO

[SA1911a1]

I think it is far more important to just keep the guns in a climate controlled space. I live in a place where sky high humidity and temperatures rule for nine months a year and I don't have any issues with rust on my firearms. I keep the temp and the humidity fairly stable in my house year round.

[BubbaDX]

I leave the bolt open on the rifles stored in my safes, but only because they fit better that way. On the racks I store them bolt closed.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Anything I am not using is in cosmoline so moisture is not an issue.

[zeebill]

Anything I am not using is in cosmoline so moisture is not an issue.

Most people ask this question in relation to whether it is good to leave them cocked or not on the firing pin spring. Myself I look at this like a chicken crossing the road subject. it really makes little or no difference in my eyes. Most rifles in safes store easier with the bolt open and also exit the safe easier too that way. Then in my one 100 gun safe it makes little difference trying to get something out of the back row is a problem no matter how you store them! Bill

[Junk Yard Dog]

Getting what you need out of that safe need be no problem at all Bill. Just put out the word with the members here that you need help cleaning out the safe, I am sure you will find enthusiastic volunteers willing to help. They will show up, dive right in there and haul away anything inconveniencing you, and that's the last you will see of any of it.

[Fledge]

Getting what you need out of that safe need be no problem at all Bill. Just put out the word with the members here that you need help cleaning out the safe, I am sure you will find enthusiastic volunteers willing to help. They will show up, dive right in there and haul away anything inconveniencing you, and that's the last you will see of any of it.

Sounds like a good plan

[locomotiveguy]

I put the bolt in pull the trigger and gently close the bolt. no springs under tension.

[joe7170]

Getting what you need out of that safe need be no problem at all Bill. Just put out the word with the members here that you need help cleaning out the safe, I am sure you will find enthusiastic volunteers willing to help. They will show up, dive right in there and haul away anything inconveniencing you, and that's the last you will see of any of it.

That's what I get called for, but the only thing is I take it out, can drool on it, fondle it, but I have to put it back

[Junk Yard Dog]

Track lessons Joe, learn to run faster

[zeebill]

Bill

[Ironnewt]

Getting what you need out of that safe need be no problem at all Bill. Just put out the word with the members here that you need help cleaning out the safe, I am sure you will find enthusiastic volunteers willing to help. They will show up, dive right in there and haul away anything inconveniencing you, and that's the last you will see of any of it.

DAT' s RITE ....I's be on da way..........Hoo-Ray

[Darryl]

Most collectors will tell you it is not how long the spring is under tension or not under tension that weakens a spring. It is the number of "cycles" it has gone through.

I have flintlocks that have been under pressure now since 1763 (some earlier). They still function just fine. Use is what wears them out.

You could make a case that closing the bolt on the chamber perhaps keeps some moisture or dirt out of the barrel, but it would only take one patch down the bore to clean any of that out. I think it is just a case of what you want to do. Be practical like Bill is.......if the rifle comes out of the safe easier with the bolt open, it will probably do less damage and that would be a lot more important then any thing that could come from the bolt open or closed.

Do your "thing"!!

[zeebill]

Most collectors will tell you it is not how long the spring is under tension or not under tension that weakens a spring. It is the number of "cycles" it has gone through.

I have flintlocks that have been under pressure now since 1763 (some earlier). They still function just fine. Use is what wears them out.

You could make a case that closing the bolt on the chamber perhaps keeps some moisture or dirt out of the barrel, but it would only take one patch down the bore to clean any of that out. I think it is just a case of what you want to do. Be practical like Bill is.......if the rifle comes out of the safe easier with the bolt open, it will probably do less damage and that would be a lot more important then any thing that could come from the bolt open or closed.

Do your "thing"!!

Amen! And well spoken! Bill

[Dane]

I store bolt open for two reasons.
1.) they fit in the safe better.
2.) the public range I go to insists on actions being open, for safety reasons, when you walk in.

If I just always keep bolts open as a rule I never have to worry about reason #2, air circulation would just be a bonus.
I have also thought about just removing all the bolts and keeping them wrapped is rags and in an ammo can in the ammo safe for security reasons. Rather than buy a bigger gun safe I just bought a second one so the other one is the ammo safe.

[joelvca]

One option no-one has mentioned yet is bolt open with the striker let down (i.e. pull the cocking piece back and rotate it counterclockwise ~1/4 turn, like when you disassemble the bolt), so there is minimum striker spring compression. Because the bolt is held in alignment by the receiver, it doesn't come apart like it would if it were out of the rifle. You still have to pull-back-and-turn to recock it (like in bolt reassembly) before you can close the bolt.

Regards,
Joel

[Darryl]

One option no-one has mentioned yet is bolt open with the striker let down (i.e. pull the cocking piece back and rotate it counterclockwise ~1/4 turn, like when you disassemble the bolt), so there is minimum striker spring compression. Because the bolt is held in alignment by the receiver, it doesn't come apart like it would if it were out of the rifle. You still have to pull-back-and-turn to recock it (like in bolt reassembly) before you can close the bolt.

Regards,
Joel

Most collectors will tell you it is not how long the spring is under tension or not under tension that weakens a spring. It is the number of "cycles" it has gone through.

I have flintlocks that have been under pressure now since 1763 (some earlier). They still function just fine. Use is what wears them out.

You could make a case that closing the bolt on the chamber perhaps keeps some moisture or dirt out of the barrel, but it would only take one patch down the bore to clean any of that out. I think it is just a case of what you want to do. Be practical like Bill is.......if the rifle comes out of the safe easier with the bolt open, it will probably do less damage and that would be a lot more important then any thing that could come from the bolt open or closed.

Do your "thing"!!